By: Audrey Raymonda John
42yrs old Alusine Sesay and 35yrs old Alicious Kamara made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on six count charges to wit Conspiracy and five Count ranging from Obtaining money by false pretenses.
According to the particulars of offence on diverse dates between July to December 2020 the western area in Freetown conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit Obtaining money by false pretences.
On the said date the accused persons obtained the sum of Two hundred and forty million Leones(240) from Marcella Jones with the pretext to have four tonn lots of land for sale situated at Number two river peninsular Road Freetown knowing same to be false.
The charges were read and explained to the accused persons and No plea was taken.
Inspector Kadie M Taylor Led Prosecution witness number two Marcella Jones CJM S.L Limited as an accountant she said she recognized the first accused person in relation to the land situated at No.2 river.
The second accused person was introduced to her by her husband Richard Jones.
She recalled on a date between July to December 2020 on the said date herself, her husband and the second accused person was driving along the peninsular.
The second accused person told herself and her husband that he knows a friend that has a land along No.2 river and he’s selling it.
At the same moment her cousin living in the United States was asking her about a land along that area so she called her and informed her about the land.
The second accused person told her about herself and the second accused person went to the Land at No.2 river.
The witness said after the visit of the said land she called her cousin and informed her about the said land she was so happy and she called the second accused person and told him how much is the land going for.
The accused person told her that the land is going for sixty million old Leones and it’s not negotiable but the second accused person told her to meet the owner of the land.
She together with her husband went to the house of the second accused person.
He lead them to the owner of the land he ask him how did he got the said land he told him that it was given to him as a gift which was produced to the court to form part of the court records.
The first accused person told her that he needed to settle some issues that was why he needed to sell the land.
So she gave the second accused person two hundred and forty million Leones at her office at 17 Charlotte Street Freetown.
The witness said she called the first accused person to confirm whether he was the one that sent the second accused person.
He confirmed and she gives him the said amount he issues receipt to her the receipt was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
The witness said she gave the first accused person one hundred and twenty million Leones at Germany Embassy which was the second payment for the said land.
The receipt for the second payment was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
The witness said her cousin came in town they went to the Land to put on structure the people around didn’t accept.
At that point they called the accused persons, they didn’t give her reasonable excuse and she went to the OSD headquarters at the Ministry of Lands.
They were invited and the accused persons were arrested on warrant since then her money and the said land was not given to her.
She later made a statement to the police station.
Cross examination by the second accused person did the first accused person confirm that he received the said money the witness said yes.
Meanwhile Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and adjourned the matter to the 15th February 2023 for further hearing.